"The Day of the Beast '' was written by Zane Grey and features a World War I veteran named Daren Lane. In this story, Daren returns from the battlefields of Europe to his hometown in the American Midwest, only to find that everything has changed. Daren is haunted by his experiences in the war and struggles to adjust to civilian life. He finds that his former girlfriend has married someone else, and he has trouble finding a job. When he does eventually find work, it is with a bootlegger named Dutch Muller, who is involved in illegal activities. As Daren becomes more involved with Dutch Muller and his criminal associates, he realizes that he has become a part of a dangerous world. He also discovers that his former girlfriend's husband is involved with the bootleggers, which puts her in danger. Will Daren get successful to help himself? Will he help his girlfriend? "The Day of the Beast'' is a gritty and realistic novel that explores the challenges faced by World War I veterans as they try to reintegrate into society.